Promotion up the ranks of the Munster Junior club divisions during the late 1990s and early 2000s seasons quickly followed hand in hand with under-age success and finally, at the third attempt in four years, the club won the AIL Provincial Round Robin series in 2003-04 to gain promotion to the All Ireland League.

Although narrowly failing to gain promotion in the 2006-2007 season having come third in the league stage of the competition, the club was crowned Division 3 Champions following their semi-final play-off defeat of Ballynahinch and defeat of Wanderers in the AIL division 3 Final (Both opposing teams had gained promotion during the league phase.)

[6] The path to the final included wins over Shannon and Cork Constitution with a walkover in the Semi-Final by Highfield.

The final was the third time that the teams had met that season and each finalist had won at home in the two games played during the All Ireland League.

Bruff won the playoff against Bective Rangers with a 25 points to 12 win to maintain their status as a division 1B club.

The following 2011-12 season again saw an extremely tight league in division 1b with 6 of the 10 clubs moving league places on the final day, Bruff were involved in yet another playoff on the last day against Buccaneers RFC, managing to win at home and maintain 1b status.

Of the panel of 22 Bruff players listed for the final of the Bateman cup in 2011, 14 had emigrated, 2 retired from Rugby and 2 had moved to other clubs.

The Irish Daily Mail dedicated a full centre page spread during this time discussing the effect that the recession had had on the club and the area.

In the 2007-2008 season The Thirds finished top of Section B in the Gleeson League but unfortunately suffered a 23-3 defeat at home to Garryowen Football Club They finished the season on a high, winning the McInerney Cup eliminating St. Senan's and Thomond RFC before edging Old Crescent 20-13 in a well-fought final at Kilballyowen Park.

The season started to run downhill after that with defeats to Cashel, Clonmel, Shannon and Kilfeacle, with a draw and a 1-point victory against UL Bohs in between.

Richie McAuliffe finished as top points scorer with 97points, despite missing a penalty in the final game of the season.